You may wonder, “Why do we need Guru Gita if there is no possibility of establishing a Guru-disciple relationship until I’ve received initiation from the Guru?” There is still, however, a Guru-disciple relationship here. That is because, that disciple is eagerly awaiting initiation from the Guru while thinking of him as his Guru. The Guru too is eagerly looking forward to initiating the disciple hoping that the disciple soon gains eligibility for initiation. That means the Guru is thinking of him as his disciple. Because of the intensity of this mutual feeling, a Guru-disciple relationship is established. That is why Siva is the Guru for us all.

It is clear from this that the Principle of Guru so far is an experience, a feeling, not a formal relationship. We understand therefore, that the Principle of Guru is an experience and not yet a practical, real relationship. So, when will the Guru actually became our Guru? The Guru will initiate you when we have intense longing. What is this intensity? It is not enough to intensely wish to get initiated, but whatever needs to be done to gain eligibility should be done with intense longing. That is what this intensity implies. That means, there should be intense spiritual practice. Until then, the Guru cannot give you initiation and even if he does, you cannot receive it. That means, you should do intense and steady spiritual practice based on the Guru-disciple relationship you established in your mind. As you continue to consistently do this, you gain the non-dual state of oneness with the Guru. Both become one. That is when you have been initiated. Non-duality has been attained. At that point, the one giving the initiation, the one receiving it and the initiation itself cease to exist. Such interesting concepts have been described in the Guru Gita.

The Guru Gita has a wonderful description of the Principle of Guru. Even though it’s small scripture, it contains all the great Upanishads. It contains the essence of all the Vedas. We should also try to understand the means to liberation described in this scripture. That is why, it is said that the Guru Gita should be chanted in the morning, afternoon and evening. One should clearly understand these great instructions and get absorbed in each verse in the Guru Gita, in each description in the Guru Gita. It is not enough to just recite it or learn by rote. It is not enough to say, “I recited the Guru Gita 5 times today”. You may say, “I have recited the Guru Gita about 1000 times. I know all the slokas really well. I am teaching all my children the Guru Gita”. Good. Everything you said sounds very wonderful. But, whether you are teaching your children, or whether you are learning it yourself or whether you are studying it, you should always, in every instance, understand and recollect the meaning and visualize it over and over again.